As lobbyists are ramping up on their horse trading to get ‘A’ portfolios for their favourite ministerial nominees, some of the nominees already have their fate sealed with ministries assigned to them, notwithstanding the ongoing screening and confirmation process by the Nigerian Senate, sources at the presidency had told The New Diplomat.
As things stand, former governor of Bayelsa state, Timipre Sylva is the favoured nominee by President Muhammadu Buhari to become the next minister of State for Petroleum Resources (while the president retains the substantive portfolio) following the failure of former holder, Ibe Kachikwu to make the ministerial list.
Festus Keyamo who ensured Kachikwu never made a comeback having taken his Delta slot, has now been pencilled down to take-over the ministry of Youth and Sport Development.
To sustain the gains made in the Niger Delta by the Buhari-administration in its first term, especially the drop in militants’ hostilities, former Akwa-Ibom state governor, Godswill Akpabio is set to be confirmed as the minister in charge of the Niger Delta ministry.
According to the source, despite Adebayo Shittu not making the ministerial list, Oyo State will retain the portfolio for the ministry of Communications as Sunday Dare, a nominee from the state will emerge as the new minister in charge of the ministry. Dare is the Executive Commissioner (Stakeholder Management), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
Barring any last minute changes, the source also said: “Former Lagos Governor, Babatunde Fashola will solely oversee the ministry of Power this time, unlike in the last administration. This is due to the determination of the President to unpack the bumper portfolio at the ministry of Power, Works and Housing into two or even three ministries.”
“Abubakar Malami will continue in his capacity as the minister of Justice. In fact, most of the nominees who served in the last administration will be re-appointed in the same capacity by the President, including Geoffrey Onyeama of the Foreign Affairs ministry,” a source added.
Recall, the Senate on Friday had screened seven ministerial nominees, bringing the number of cabinet nominees so far screened by the red chamber to 31 since Wednesday.
Those screened on Friday were Abubakar Malami (Kebbi), Hadi Sirika (Katsina), Festus Keyamo (Delta), Pauline Tallen (Plateau), Osagie Ehanire (Edo), Muhammadu Dingyadi (Sokoto) and Ali Pantami (Gombe).
Those yet to be screened are Gbemisola Saraki (Kwara), Goddy Jeddy-Agba (Cross River), Suleiman Adamu (Jigawa), Maryam Katagum (Bauchi), Lai Mohammed (Kwara) and Clement Agba (Edo).
Others are Geofrey Onyeama (Enugu),  Muhammad Mahmoud (Kaduna), Sabo Nanono (Kano), Raji Fashola (Lagos), Rauf Aregbosola (Osun) and Saleh Mamman (Taraba).
The screening is expected to continue on Monday before the official confirmation and appointment of the nominees to ministries.
